Orangetown Town Board Approves Settlement to Remove Back Nine From Blue Hill Cafe

Back Nine LLC will surrender the Blue Hill Golf Course restaurant and bar by noon Monday, April 11.

The Orangetown Town Board voted unanimously to approve Resolution 227 late Tuesday, which settles the eviction proceedings the town had been pursuing against Back Nine due to unpaid license fees.

"It's unfortunate that we had to go though this with Back Nine, but this settlement is the most positive settlement we can have to ensure a smooth transition to whoever comes next," Orangetown Councilman Michael Maturo said. "We’re excited about working with the new vendor at the restaurant."

Maturo said that potential vendors had already expressed interest in taking over the facility and they expect more now that the agreement is in place.

"We already sent out RFPs (Request for Proposal)," Maturo said. "We’re hoping within two or three weeks to have a new vendor selected and and they will be able to move in quickly."

As part of the agreement, Orangetown agreed to purchase much of the equipment Back Nine put into the facility. Maturo said the town agreed to that to help facilitate a quick transition.

"In order to settle their debts with us, we all agreed they would leave almost everything they had invested into the business," Maturo said. "It came out still owed them a little bit of money."

That is why the agreement includes a payment o $28,000 from the town to Back Nine.